XN000022-1980-06-26 — Page 11

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THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1980

CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY IS ALREADY PUTTING ON EXTRA BUSES ON ITS BEACH SERVICES EVERY SUNDAY.

A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE BUS-ONLY LANE ON REPULSE BAY ROAD WILL ALLOW BUSES TO MOVE AT A REASONABLE SPEED WHILE THEY TAKE PEOPLE HOME FROM THE BEACH IN THE AFTERNOON.

+THERE IS A HEAVY CONCENTRATION OF RETURN TRAFFIC IN THE AFTERNOON AS SWIMMERS ALL TRY TO LEAVE THE BEACH AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME.

*THE RESULTING CONGESTION HAS REDUCED THE NUMBER OF TRIPS EACH BUS CAN MAKE, RESULTING IN LONG QUEUES FOR BUSES IN REPULSE BAY. FROM SUNDAY, BUS PASSENGERS SHOULD GET HOME MUCH MORE SWIFTLY, + HE SAID.

CHANGES TO CORONERS APPOINTMENT PROPOSED

*****

THE PRESENT BURDEN ON CORONERS WILL BE LIGHTENED AND DEATH INQUIRIES WILL BE SPEEDED UP IF THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSED CORONERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 IS PASSED INTO LAW.

THE BILL, TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE ON JULY 4, WILL ENABLE FÜLL-TIME CORONERS TO BE APPOINTED WHO WILL NOT HAVE TO BE MAGISTRATES.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED TODAY THAT THE BILL AMENDED THE APPOINTMENT CRITERIA SO THAT CORONERS COULD BE DRAWN FROM THE LAW PROFESSION.

+UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL IT WOULD NO LONGER BE NECESSARY FOR A CORONER TO BE A MAGISTRATE - IN FUTURE IT WOULD ONLY BE NECESSARY FOR HIM TO BE QUALIFIED IN LAW, HE SAID. +HOWEVER, WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WITH EXTENSIVE LAW EXPERIENCE.+

+THIS WOULD MEAN THEY WOULD NOT CARRY OUT. MAGISTERIAL DUTIES THEREBY REDUCING ANY DELAYS IN DEATH INQUIRIES.+

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE BILL AMENDED THE CORONERS ORDINANCE TO GIVE EFFECT TO CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS OF A WORKING PARTY APPOINTED BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE TO REVIEW THE ORDINANCE AND

ITS OPERATION.

THE AMENDMENT TO THE CRITERIA FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF CORONERS IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE.

/OTHERS INCLUDE: